Motorized instrument supporting carriage and track



Aug. 2, 1966 B. G. RUSSELL, sR

MOTORIZED INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING CARRIAGE `AND TRACK 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 2, 1964 Barney G. Russe/4 Sr.

. INVENTOR.

wh.. BY @La Aug. 2, 1966 S. S. RUSSELL, SR 3,263,627

MOTORIZED INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING CARRIAGE AND TRACK Barney G. Russe/l, 5r.

l N VEN TOR BY www5/mgas Aug. 2,- 1966 B. G. RUSSELL, sR 3,253,627

MOTORIZED INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING CARRIAGE AND TRACK Filed Dec. 2, 1964N i 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 34 Fig 5 Barney 6. Russe/l, Sr

l N VEN TOR.

BY WM Hmm United States Patent O 3,263,627 MOTORIZED INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING CARRIAGE AND TRACK Barney G. Russell, Sr., P.O. Box 488, Camden, Ark. Filed Dec. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 415,258 5 Claims. (Cl. IOS-147) This invention relates generally to a means for supporting instruments and particularly to means for suspending instruments by providing a motorized instrument supporting carriage and track which is integral with a building structure.

In the practice of Ophthalmology and Optometry, for example, it is necessary to utilize a number of diagnostic or visual aid instruments in the course of the routine examination or treatment of a patient. Many of the instruments utilized are by nature of their complexity rather cumbersome and heavy and therefore require support structures to properly orient them with regard to the patient during the course of examination or treatment. In the past the instruments were therefore generally supported by a pedestal-type support which was adjacent the patients examining chair. Due to size and weight of the instruments, i-t was generally unpractical to attempt to support more than two instruments from a single pedestal, accordingly this required that the practitioner utilize more than one chair (instrument-support-pedestal) unit in order to have all the required instruments available.

This duplication becomes costly and also tends to detract from the efficient utilization of the examining room space and also necessitates that the patient be moved from chair to chair as it becomes necessary to utilize numerous instruments during the course of an examination or treatment. This, of course, results in an inconvenience and loss of valuable time to both the patient and the practitioner.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide means for supporting instruments in such a manner so as to provide a more eticient utilization of the room within which they are utilized.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means of supporting instruments in suspended relationship so that the spa-ce beneath may be utilized more ethciently.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a means of individually supporting a plurality of instruments in non-use or storage position and means for efficiently conveying the instruments from the storage position to a second use position and subsequently returning the instruments to the storage position.

Still another object of -this invention is to provide a motorized instrument supporting carriage and track which may be substantially enclosed Within the ceiling, or false ceiling of a room, thus providing an aesthetically pleasing installation which does not disturb the patient.

The instant invention provides a highly practical and eicient means of supporting a plurality of instruments from individual stabilized carriages which are horizontally movable along a rail system secured adjacent the ceiling of a laboratory, examination or treatment room or the like.

The instant invention further provides a means of individually supporting lthe instruments required and efficiently transporting them individually, as required, from a` storage position to a substantially common position adjacent a patients chair, for example.

3,263,627 Patented August 2, 1'966 ICC Although the instant invention is described and illustrated in connection with ophthalmological and Optometrical examining and treatment rooms, it is understood that the instant invention is suitable for wide variety of applications such as laboratories, operating rooms, clinics, dental offices, to name a few.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a motorized instrument supporting carriage and track in suspended relationship to an examining chair;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the motorized carriage taken along the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1 and further showing a partial vertical sectional View of the supporting track;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational View of the supporting carriage and track showingl a partial vertical section of the motorized support carriage and track taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the motorized support carriage taken along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan View of the carriage stabilizing track and rollers taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a slightly enlarged partial top plan view of the track sealing means taken along a line perpendicular to the line 6 6 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly FIGURES 1 and 2, it is seen that a plurality of trackways indicated generally at 10, 12 and 14 are secured adjacent the ceiling of an optometrical examining room 16, for example. An examining chair 18 is positioned in the room 16 at any suitable point.

The trackways 10, 12 and 14 converge over the chair 1S and are preferably provided with relatively straight portions 11, 13 and 15 which are substantially parallel for reasons which will become clear.

The terminal portions of the trackways 10, 12 and 14 preferably terminate within dust-free instrument storage enclosures schematically indicated by broken lines at 20, 22, 24, 26, 2S and 30. Although not shown, the fronts of the storage enclosures may be equipped with remotely controlled closures which may -be opened to permit passage of an instrument suspended from the trackways.

A plurality of substantially identical motorized instrument supporting carriages indicated generally at 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31, are shown on their respective tra-ckways 10, 12 and 14. As seen Ibest in FIGURE 1, the motorized instrument supporting carriages 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31 are shown in position within their respective dust-free storage enclosures 20, 22, :24, 26, 28 yand 30.

Although the structure of the trackway and the instrument supporting carriage is described with regard to one specific trackway and one specific instrument supporting carriage, it is understood that all the trackways and all the instrument supporting carriages yare substantially identical.

In FIGURES 2 and 3 it is seen that the trackway indicated generally at 14 includes an upper stabilizing guide means for a supporting carriage the guide means being formed by an Lshaped member 32 of suitable material such as aluminum, or wood, for example, and secured to the ceiling 33 by means of nails or screws. A second member 34 also of aluminum or wood, for example, is secured by nails or screws to member 32 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The members 32 and 34 therefore define a downwardly open slot 36. The members 32 and 34 lare understood to extend along substantially the entire length of the underside of the upper portion of the trackway 14.

The false ceiling 38 which carries the rail 40 is supported by a rigid hanger 42 of wood, for example, which is secured to the upper stabilizing means and the ceiling 33 by suitable means such as nails, screws, or bolts. The hanger 42 also extends along substantially the entire length of the trackway 14.

The rail 40 is preferably formed of aluminum and is secured Iby means of screws with the lower portion secured in a rabbet formed in a slot in the false ceiling 38 as seen best in FIGURE 3.

The motorized instrument supporting carriage includes a carrier 44 formed of wood, for example, which is supported on the trackway 40 by a pair of fianged tracking rollers 46 and 48 which are preferably formed of a plastic material such as nylon, or Teflon, for example. The tracking rollers 46 and 48 are rotatably secured to the carrier 44 by means of bolts 47 and 49 as best seen in FIGURE 4. The upper portion of the carrier 44 is stabilized by a pair of stabilizing rollers 52 which are rotatably secured to the carrier 44 by means of screws 53.

The stabilizing rollers 52 lare capable of rolling within the upper guideway 36 without any undue horizontal movement transverse to the guideway 36 thereby assuring the stability of the carriage 31 as it moves along the track 40.

A rigid supporting member 50 formed of steel or aluminum, for example, is secured by means of bolts or screws to the carrier 44 .as seen best in FIGURE 4. The lower end of member 50 projects downwardly through a slot 39 cut in the ceiling 38. A horizontal portion 51 is secured to the lower end of the member 50 by suitable means such as welding, for example.

A suitable coupling union indicated generally at 52 is secured to the horizontal portion 51 of the member 50 and provides a means of securing an instru-ment -carrying arm 54. A resilient boot 55 is placed over the union 52 for aesthetic reasons. The arm 54 may be adapted to carry any type of instrument, etc., desired. Although the carrier 44 may be moved along the trackway 14 by manual means or means such as a cord and pulley arrangement, such as used with traversing drapery operators, it is preferable to provide each instrument carrier with a power operating means. As seen Ibest in FIGURES 3 and 4, the carrier 44 is provided with a gear reduction reversible electric motor 56 with an output shaft 58. A flanged drive roller 60 is secured to the shaft 58 by means of a set screw (not shown) which cooperates with a flat surface on the shaft 58 to lock the roller 60 so that the drive roller 60 rotates in unison with the shaft 58. The drive motor 56 is secured to the member 44 by bolts and is supplied with electrical power through an electrical cord reel indicated generally at 62 and secured to the ,carrier 44 by bolts.

The electrical cord 64 is connected to a suitable source of current through a suitable controller of conventional design (not shown) in a manner which will be described later.

To insure sufficient frictional engagement of the drive roller 60 with the rail 40 a spring (not shown) may be secured to the screws 53 or to the top of the carrier 44 between the rollers 52 and the member 32 to bias the carrier downwardly against the rail 40.

As seen best in FIGURES 3 and 6 the slot 39 in the ceiling 38 is preferably sealed by a pair of resilient seals 41 and 43. As seen in FIGURE 6, as the carriage 31 traverses the track 40 the depending support member 50 parts the seal members 41 and 43 and after it passes a given point, the seal members 41 and 43 assume their normal position thereby effectively sealing out the dust and the like from the trackway.

When required the instrument 70, supported by the motorized carriage 31, for example, may be brought from the storage position in the dust-free enclosure in FIGURE l, to the use position adjacent the patients chair shown in broken lines in FIGURE l by manipulating .a suitable electrical `controller preferably adjacent the patients chair (not shown), which supplies current to the motor 56, thus causing the drive roller 60 to rotate and consequently propel the carriage 31 along the track 40 from the storage position to a use position which in this case is adjacent the chair 18. The room may be equipped with any number of trackways and in the installation illustrated, it is desirable to have the trackways over the chair in parallel relationship so that as the instruments on the several trackways are individually brought to the use position, they will be in substantially the same position with respect to the chair. When the operator is finished with a particular instrument, it is merely necessary to manipulate the controls and reverse the motor 56 to transport the instrument from the use position back to the storage position.

Accordingly, it may be seen that the instant invention provides an efficient means of supporting instruments or the like without unduly cluttering up the examining room. Since it is not necessary to move the patient around during the course of examination or treatment, considerable time is saved. Generally speaking the speed of the drive motor on the carriage is designed to transport the carriage to or from the storage position in approximately ten seconds.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a ceiling of a room, an instrument supporting apparatus substantially enclosed within a false ceiling depending from the ceiling of the room for supporting and transporting an optometrical instrument and the like from a generally dust-free storage position to a use position adjacent an examining chair which comprises a trackway integral with the ceiling, said trackway including an upper stabilizing track secured to the ceiling, said false ceiling being spaced downwardly from and supported by said ceiling, a lower track supported from said upper stabilizing track and integral with said false ceiling, a carriage supported by and movable along said lower track, said carriage including a carrier supported on said track by at least a pair of tracking rollers carried by said carrier, at least a pair of upper stabilizing rollers carried by said carrier and operatively engaged by said upper stabilizing track to stabilize said carrier, a motor carried by said carrier, a drive roller in driving relationship with said lower track carried by said motor to propel said carrier along said trackway, said false ceiling being provided with a slot adjacent and parallel to said lower track, a supporting member carried Iby said carrier and projecting downwardly therefrom through said slot in said false ceiling to provide a means of supporting an instrument adjacent an examining chair in suspended relationship to the oor of the room and resilient seal members supported by said false ceiling adjacent the slot for effectively sealing the slot in the false ceiling but allowing passage of said depending supporting member as said carriage moves along said trackway.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said motor is a gear reduction reversible electric motor.

3. T'he combination of claim 1 wherein said resilient seal members are substantially ilush with the lower side of said false ceilin-g.

4. In combination with a ceiling of a room, an instrument supporting apparatus substantially enclosed within a false ceiling depending from the ceiling for supporting and transporting an optometrical instrument and the like from a generally dust-free storage position to a use position adjacent an examination chair which comprises au overhead suspension means, said overhead suspension means being supported by and integral with the ceiling of the room, said suspension means including a track system,- an instrument support means movably carried by said track system for movement along said track system Ibetween the instrument storage position and the instrument use position and stabilizing means carried by said instrument support means and coacting with the track system to stabilize said instrument support means to prevent undue transverse or vertical movement of said instrument support means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the instrument support means is provided with a power means to propel said support means along said track system.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATIENTS 409,769 8/1889 Bodefeld 104161 1,019,331 3/1912 Maloney 104-121 1,070,186 8/1913 Schmidt 104-93 1,679,068 7/1928 Allen et al 105-147 2,014,430 9/1935 =Fish 104-125 2,589,803 3/1952 Haley 104-94 2,728,182 12/1955 Fulton et al 191-12.2 2,943,579 7/1960 BelGeddes 10'4-130 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,273,478 9/1961 France.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

F. W. MONAGHAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CEILING OF A ROOM, AN INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING APPARATUS SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSED WITHIN A FALSE CEILING DEPENDING FROM THE CEILING OF THE ROOM FOR SUPPORTING AND TRANSPORTING AN OPTOMETRICAL INSTRUMENT AND THE LIKE FROM A GENERALLY DUST-FREE STORAGE POSITION TO A USE POSITION ADJACENT AN EXAMINING CHAIR WHICH COMPRISES A TRACKWAY INTEGRAL WITH THE CEILING, SAID TRACKWAY INCLUDING AN UPPER STABILIZING TRACK SECURED TO THE CEILING, SAID FALSE CEILING BEING SPACED DOWNWARDLY FROM AND SUPPORTED BY SAID CEILING, A LOWER TRACK SUPPORTED FROM SAID UPPER STABILIZING TRACK AND INTEGRAL WITH SAID FALSE CEILING, A CARRIAGE SUPORTED BY AND MOVABLE ALONG SAID LOWER TRACK, SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING A CARRIER SUPPORTED ON SAID TRACK BY AT LEAST A PAIR OF TRACKING ROLLERS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIER, AT LEAST A PAIR OF UPPER STABLIZING ROLLERS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIER AND OPERATIVELY ENGAGED BY SAID UPPER STABILIZING TRACK TO STABILIZE SAID CARRIER, A MOTOR CARRIED BY SAID CARRIER, A DRIVE ROLLER IN DRIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID LOWER TRACK CARRIED BY SAID MOTOR TO PROPEL SAID CARRIER ALONG SAID TRACKWAY, SAID FALSE CEILING BEING PROVIDED WITH A SLOT ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO SAID LOWER TRACK, A SUPPORTING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID CARRIER AND PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM THROUGH SAID SLOT IN SAID FALSE CEILING TO PROVIDE A MEANS OF SUPPORTING AN INSTRUMENT ADJACENT AN EXAMINING CHAIR IN SUSPENDED RELATIONSHIP TO THE FLOOR OF THE ROOM AND RESILIENT SEAL MEMBERS SUPPORTED BY SAID FALSE CEILING ADJACENT THE SLOT FOR EFFECTIVELY SEALING THE SLOT IN THE FLASE CEILING BUT ALLOWING PASSAGE OF SAID DEPENDING SUPPORTING MEMBER AS SAID CARRIAGE MOVES ALONG SAID TRACKWAY. 